Stop. Printing. Hashtags.

Hashtags in their current form oringinally appeared organicially on Twitter. They were created by the community as a way to start grouping together distinct tweets into a coherent narrative.

Since those humble beginnings the hashtag has taken on a life of its own. Like all good communication devices, the nuances associated with using a hashtag have abounded.

They're now across most of the dominant social media platforms, and new generations are growing up with a new meaning for those four crossed lines.

Through their use, like-minded Instagrammers can find one another, would-be influencers can find their target markets, and anyone with a keyboard can comment on issues in the news.

But there's a problem.

It's so bad I had to take to my keyboard.

Stop. Printing. Hashtags.

There's been a curious uptick in billboards, posters, even shopping bags, bearing hashtags thought-up by marketing teams across the country.

But here's the thing: the moment you remove that hashtag from the platforms it's designed for, it loses its intrinsic value.

Hashtags are an organic, user-generated phenomenon. Successful marketeers run campaigns across social channels with embedded hashtags - never having to beg for attention unlike a plastic bag that says "Join the conversation #PleaseLikeUs".

Users create their own hashtags all the time and the community votes on the best with their own posts.

But analog hashtags are like your dad throwing on a cap backwards and shouting "hey fellow kids!"

That's literally how ridiculous it looks. Stop it. Stop it now.

Begging for engagement like this screams irrelevance - something no marketing force should ever accept.

Written by Tom WaltersHashtabolitionist

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